Boral Cement enhances sustainability and operational efficiency with 24/7 automatic Konecranes waste-to-energy handling crane
[Photo 1] Boral’s fully-automated Konecranes recoverable processed materials handling crane operates 24/7, moving industrial recovered materials, ready to be used as fuel to offset coal usage and enhance sustainability outcomes
Leading building materials company, Boral Cement, is enhancing its sustainability and reducing fossil fuel dependency by using processed industrial recoverable materials as part of the fuel mix to provide heat energy to the kiln at their Berrima Cement Works.
The ‘Solid Waste-Derived Fuels’ (SWDF) project relies on a 24/7 Konecranes fully-automated resource recoverable materials handling crane to safely and efficiently handle processed recovered material.
“This processed recovered material is delivered by truck from Tier 1 resource recovery facilities in Sydney, and the Konecranes Waste-to-Energy (WtE) handling crane moves material into hoppers that feed into a conveyor belt system that transports it to the rotary cement kiln. If the hoppers are full, the crane moves the material to a temporary storage area,” explains Mr David Spears, Principal Project Manager, Solid Waste-Derived Fuels Project, Boral Cement.
“Important to the success of the SWDF project is having the right material handling equipment. In addition to having the right technology, the experienced service and support from Konecranes was a major factor in our decision to employ their technology,” he said.
Boral’s Berrima Cement Works – part of the nationally leading building materials organisation – employs more than 145 people and supplies more than 60% of NSW and ACT’s cement products.
[Photo 2] A truck unloading processed recovered materials to the Solid Waste-Derived Fuels Facility, left, and the conveyor system that transports material on a 30-degree angle to the kiln after the Konecranes WtE-handling crane loads the hoppers
Konecranes is the world’s largest crane service organisation, with more than 600,000 pieces of lifting equipment of all makes and models under service contract worldwide.
Sustainability
“Sustainability is one of our core values at Boral. The company particularly looks for initiatives that support our objective of delivering Zero Harm to employees and visitors, as well as initiatives that provide both an environmental and a cost benefit. The efficiency of the Konecranes WtE-handling crane lined up with all of these objectives,” said Mr Spears.
The Konecranes 12t WtE-handling crane has a specialised grab attachment that can pick up 10 cubic metres of processed recovered material at a time. With the light fuel material densities at Boral’s Berrima Cement Works, it picks up approximately 4 tonnes with each full load.
“The Berrima Cement Works produces Portland Cement and the process requires measured quantities of specific materials such as limestone, shale and iron that are blended together, ground to a fine power and fused together at a very high temperature in a rotary kiln. This fused material is referred to as clinker. Previously, the main fuel used for this heating process was coal, but Boral is always striving for ways to be operationally competitive and more sustainable,” says Mr Spears.
“The SWDF facility is designed to offset up to 30% of our annual coal usage, which makes a significant difference to the environment, and to operational efficiency.”
“Materials that would have gone to landfill are now being used as fuel, which contributes to a reduced environmental impact, and provides us with a reduction in manufacturing costs as well. It’s truly a win-win situation.”
[Photo 3] Boral’s Berrima Cement Works is situated mid-way between Sydney and Canberra
Automation
To feed a kiln that constantly requires fuel to generate heat, Konecranes’ fully-automated WtE-handling crane operates 24/7, without needing an operator. Everything is monitored from a central control-room.
“We set ourselves demanding production targets, as we always strive to enhance our competitiveness, so an efficient and automated crane is a major benefit to our operations,” said Mr Spears.
“There’s a natural learning curve with such an advanced crane, especially in setting up the operating parameters, layout, and engineering options. Konecranes provided us with a dedicated Industry Specialist, who was a great help. He helped us achieve the best and most efficient outcome.”
“With such a specialised crane, we are also looking to Konecranes for the ongoing service and maintenance, to ensure optimised crane lifecycle and minimal disruptions to our SWDF facility’s operations.”
Expansion
With the success of the SWDF Project, Boral is already looking to the future, and examining the possibilities of further enhancing sustainability and operational objectives with resource recoverable-derived fuels.
“Our coal offset project is a major part of our Berrima Cement Works’ sustainability and we believe this project is a benefit to the community. We are already talking with Konecranes about potential further expansion, to offset even more coal in the future,” said Mr Spears.
View a video about this project here.
Konecranes waste-handling cranes
More than 10 years ago, Konecranes introduced an integrated rope/cable drum to optimise the performance of its waste-handling cranes. The vertical power cable for the electro-hydraulic grab is wound onto the rope drum and is driven by the hoisting machinery. With this unique feature, maintenance costs savings are substantial.
Konecranes waste handling cranes also feature deep groves and a pressure roller to prevent over-wrapping. The company’s patented trolley/machinery assembly distributes equal loadings to all trolley wheels.
Konecranes’ proprietary load control technologies manage critical crane functions to reduce structural stress, increase efficiency and prolong equipment life. Sway Control minimises load sway from bridge and trolley motions, reducing collisions between the bucket and the pit walls or hopper and preventing equipment damage. Sway Control allows the crane to operate to its full potential.
Other Smart Features include Slack Rope Prevention, Shock Load Prevention and Position Monitoring.
Additional Information:
For more information in Australia, please contact:
Konecranes Sales and Marketing, 14-16 Heald Rd, Ingleburn NSW 2565, ph 61-2-8796 7666, fax 61-2-9605 4336, email [email protected]
Sales inquiries 1300 937637 (Australia wide) or visit our website www.konecranes.com/en-au
For more information in APAC, please contact:
Enez See Toh, Marketing Manager, Industrial Businesses, Asia Pacific Region
Ph: +65-6 6601267 Mob: 65 – 9772 9853 Email: [email protected]
Konecranes Pte Ltd, 8 Admiralty St, #06-11, Admirax, Singapore 757438
www.konecranes.com
For more information globally, please contact:
Joseph Botros, Director, Business Development, WtE Cranes, Americas and APAC
Ph (direct): (604) 526-3310 Email: [email protected]
For inquiries about this media release, please contact:
Jack Mallen-Cooper at Whyte Public Relations Pty Ltd
Ph: +61-2-9901-4306 Email: [email protected]
About Konecranes, Inc.
Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses™, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment of all makes. In 2018, Group sales totalled EUR 3,156 million. The Group has 16,100 employees at 600 locations in 50 countries. Konecranes shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki (symbol: KCR).